Vehicle top



F. K. LEWIS.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1918.

1,409,013. Patented Mar. 7,1922;

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

F. K. LEWIS.

VEHICLE TOP.-

APPLICATION FILED APR-3,1918.

1,409,01 3. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZNYENTOz/ 7724 A Len As.

UNlTiil PATENT OFFICE.

FRED K. LEWIS, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO, AS$IGNOR TO THE .ASHTABULA BON SOCKET COMPANY, OF ASHTABULA. 01-110, A CORPORAT ON OF OHIO.

VEHICLE TOP.

Application filed April 3,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED K. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Tops, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements relate more particularly to foldable vehicle tops of the so-called one man type, in which, instead of the bows that carry the forward portion of the top covering being directly supported to the vehicle body, they are attached to one of the rear main bows. In most tops of the type in hand the extreme forward, or outrigger bow, as it is called, is carried by means of swinging arms thus attached to such main bow at some distance from the point of pivotal attachment of the latter to the vehicle body, such arms, with said auxiliary bow, extending substantially horizontally, in the open position of the top, and together constituting what maybe termed an articulated outrigger bow. To these arms, or the rear portions of such articulated outrigger bow, there is in turn usually attached a supplemental bow, the function of which is to support the stretch of cover material between the main bow and the outrigger bow proper. In order to hold and support such outrigger bow and supplemental bow in the open condition of the top under the cover load, as well as to facilitate the proper folding of the top cover, when the top is to be closed, various braces or connections are desirably employed between the main bow and said outrigger and supplemental bow.

The object of the present invention is to provide suitable braces or links for thus interconnecting the three bows just named, whereby a rigid supporting frame for the forward portion of the cover will be provided in the open condition of the top, and whereby the folding operation may be facilitated. A further object is to utilize as few parts as possible so as to simplify the construction and lower its cost.

Patented Mar. *7, 1922.

1918. Serial NO. 226,368.

With the foregoing and related ends in view, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis closed means constituting, however, but several of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. l is a side elcvational view of a topsupporting structure embodying my present improvements, such top being shown as mounted on a vehicle body of conventional form; Fig.2 is a side elevational view of a modified construction of such top, only the forward portion of the same, which is of present interest, being illustrated; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2, showing another modification; Fig. I} is a plan view of a detail of such last named modification; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view similar to Fig, 2, but illustrating still a third modification; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a detail of such last named modification; and Figs. 7 and 8 are side elevations of still other modified forms of the invention.

As in the usual type of one man top above referred to, I utilize in the framework of my present improved top a forwardly inclined main bow 1 pivotally at tached to the body 2 of the vehicle adjacent the rear seat, where such body is a twoseated one as illustrated in Fig. 1. There will regularly be employed with such a body a rear main bow 3, that is preferably pivotally attached to such forward main bow near its lower end; and where the body, and thus the top, is unusually long, asupplemental bow 4 may be provided, being attached either to such front main bow or rear main bow, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The portion of the structure of present interest is the forwardly extending frame, whereby a corresponding portion of the top covering 5, which projects over the front seat, is supported. This structure comprises, as already indicated, an articulated auxiliary bow, or, as it is sometimes called, outrigger how 6, the latter term applying more particular y to the outer portion or how 7 proper, which is secured to the forward main how 2 by means of arms 8 pivotally attached to the latter and to the rear ends of such outrigger bow, and so constituting the inner portion of said articulated auxiliary how 6. The points of attachment of these arms to the main how are preferably in. line with or just above the side edges of the cover, so as to be hidden by the latter, and the joints 9 between said arms and the outrigger how are rule-joints disposed so as to prevent further bending of the parts in question,

when extended in horizontal fashion, as in the open condition of the top.

Pivotally attached to the arms 8 is a supplemental bow 10 that, in such open condition of the top, extends ,iforwardly at an angle with respect to said arms, so as to support the cover at a point approximately midway between the main bow l and outrigger how 7. The means for opcratively connecting this supplemental bow .with said main and outrigger bows may take on various modified forms, all coming within the present invention, as illust'ated in Figs. 1,

2, 3'and 5, respectively. All these forms are similar in that such connecting means comprise two-part articulated links. the

outer ends'of whichare attached to such main bow and outrigger bow, respectively, each link being connected at a point adjacent the inner ends oi? its component parts, where they are themselves pivolally joined together, to the corresprmding side of said supplemental bow. In each of the several forms thus illustrated. moreover, stop means are employed to limit the bending of said links in one direction. The specific differences in the construction of the several modifications illustrate may best be indicated by reference to the above namedfigures in their order.

In Fig 1 the rear part 12 of the articu-;

lated link extends torwariilly a short distance from the oint 13 which connects such part with the i orward part 14- of said link; and the inner end 15 of such forward part, where it is thus joined to the rear part of the link, is curved downwardly to cause said part to clear the pin that pivotally oins the otherpar PIOVlSlQH tor a certain amount of lost moto said supplemental bow 10.

tion is made both at this joint and at the yjoint between such forward link part and Y the outrigger how, by using slots 16 and 17, instead of circular holes, to engage with the respective p1vot:p1ns.' A stop block 18 is Provided between'each'arni 8 and the corresponding side of the supplemental bow 10, suohblock being preferably attached to oivformmga par-t ot the arm, and serving jto limit the: movement of said supplemental :bow" toiva1'ds said arms. The result, of

separate pivotal connection] course, is to correspondingly limit or dctermine the bending movement of the link parts in one direction, so that when the top is open the parts of the frame as a whole will .be rigidly interlocked and s cured against collapse. V v

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 the forward part 20 of the articulated link is pivotally connected to the supplemental how 10, instead of the rear part 21 of such link, such rear part being then pivotally attached to the forward part at a point slightly removed from its inner end 22, which is bent downwardly, as before, to separate the pivot points just referred to. In this construction, as in that of Fig. 1, a stop block 23 is provided between each arm and the corresponding side of the supplemental bow, which servesto limit the move ment of such supplemental bow towards said arm, and thus the bendingof the link.

In the modification illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, the arrangement of link parts'is substantially'the same as that just described as shown in Fig. 2, except that instead of having stop blocks between the supplemental bow and side arms, the joint 25 between the two parts 26 and 27 of the link is in the i 7 top cover- In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,'the forward link part 30 is shown as extending to the rear considerably beyond its point attachment to the'snpplemental bow 10, the rear link'part 31 being correspondingly shortened. Said parts are, however, as in theconstruction shown in Figs. 3 and 4;, connected together by'a stop hinge 32, that prevents the downward bendingot the link when it is straightened out, and thus, by reason oi the pivotal connection of the forward link part'with the supplemental bow, its position is likewise determined.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the joint 35 between thetwo parts 36 and 3'7 of the articulated link is not only in the form of a stop-hinge or rule-joint, but serves as the means of attachmentof the link to the supplemental how 10. In otherwords, the pivot pin of thejoint passes also through said bow, thus avoiding the necessity of a between said how and the link.

In Fig. 8, I show the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 with certain a roadster top, on such top only a single main bow 40, is ordinarily employed, such" '-bo .v, as'indica'ted, inclining rearwardly instead of forwardly. The arrangement and I how,

connections of arms 8 andbow 7 composing the outrigger will be the same as in the previously described constructions, and this is also true of the supplemental bow 10; while the two parts 41. and 42 of the link connections between the several bows is substantially the same as the one in said Figsv 2 and 3. However, instead of a slotted pivotal connection 17 between link-part -11 and outrigger bow 7,I find it preferable in the construction in hand to make the connection 43 between the two link-parts of slotted form, since thereby the outrigger and supplemental bows will collapse or fall toget-her more nearly in unison, when the top is folded.

In all of the foregoing constructions, it will be observed that the only connections required between the main bow 1 and the several bows that enter into the forward portion of the top structure, are the plural pivotally interconnected links, specifically the two-part articulated links, which may be readily fabricated and attached, consisting of relatively light bars of metal. By reason of their interconnection, and'the use of the stop means, as shown, a rigid framework is provided, one that is secure against accidental collapse, and at the same time the link parts assist materially in folding the cover when the top is lowered. Such lowering is accomplished by forcibly breaking the joints 9 between the outrigger bow 7 proper and the swinging arms 8, that support the same. Thereupon, through thearticulated links the intermediate bow 10 will be tilted backwardly in unison with the upward tilting of the outrigger bow, so that by the time the joints between the latter and such side arms have been swung back into proximity with the lower portion of the main bow, said supplemental bow, along with said outrigger will be brought into parallel relation with said main bow, and the cover properly folded between said bows, respectively.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a vehicle top, the combination with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an. articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow, a supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear part of said auxiliary bow, and two pivotally interconnected links pivotally attached at their outer ends to said main bow and to the outer portion of said auxiliary bow, respectively, one of said links being also pivotally connected, at a point closely adjacent the joint therebetween, to said supplemental bow.

2. In a vehicle top, the combination with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow, a supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear partof said auxiliary bow, and two pivotally interconnected links pivotally at tached at their outer ends to said main bow and to the outer portion of said auxiliary bow, respectively, the inner end of the rearmost link being also directly pivotally connected with said supplemental bow.

3. In a vehicle top, the combination with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow, a supplemental bow pivotally connect ed to the rear part of said auxiliary bow, and a plurality of links pivotally connected with said main bow, with said auxiliary bow, and

with each other, one of said links being further pivotally connected with said supplemental bow, and the inner end of one of said links being bent downwardly, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. In a vehicle top, the combination with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow. supplemental bow pivotally connected to the rear part of said auxiliary bow, and two links connected at their outer ends to said main bow and the outer portion of said auxiliary bow, respectively, the inner ends of said links being pivotally connected together, and one such end being further pivotally connected with said supplemental bow, and the inner end of one of said links being bent downwardly, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a vehicle top, the combination. with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow, a supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear part of said auxiliary bow, and two pivotally interconnected links pivotally attached at their outer ends to said main bow and to the outer portion of said auxiliary bow, respectively, the rearmost of said links being also directly pivotally connected, at a point closely adjacent the joint between said links, to said supplemental bow.

6. In a vehicle top, the combination with a main bow or standard, of an outrigger structure wholly supported therefrom and including an articulated auxiliary bow pivotally attached at its rear end to said main bow, a supplemental bow pivotally attached .to' the rear part of said auxiliarybow, and

' two lpivotally interconnected'links pivotally attached at their outer :ends to said main bow and to the outer portion of said auxiliarybow, respectively, the rearmost of said links being also directly pivotally connected,

at a point closely adjacent the joint between said links, to said supplemental bow and the inner end of the foremost link bending l0 downwardly to such joint.

Signed by me, this 27th day of March,

FRED K. LEWIS. 

